University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XI

BACON'S REBELLION

Justice too long Delayed. — The king informed the envoys
"that he was graciously inclined to favor his said subjects
of Virginia," and promised a new charter for "the settlement
and confirmation of all things," which he even
ordered to be drafted; but notwithstanding the most persistent
efforts made by the colony's representatives, it was
so much delayed that before it was issued, a new cause of
alarm furnished the people with what they desired — a
pretext for appearing in arms in an effort to resist oppression
by revolution.

Indian Troubles. — The Indians furnished the occasion
for a popular uprising. In 1675, they began committing
depredations and murders in some of the frontier
settlements, and there were rumors that all the friendly
tribes were about to break the peace that had existed
for thirty years. There appeared, too, to be sufficient
cause for such apprehension; for all along the border
plantations prowling savages in blind fury murdered men,
till the people became frenzied at the horrors of insecurity
that hung over their homes. An appeal for protection
was made to the governor; but he showed so little disposition
to take prompt action that a suspicion was aroused
that he secretly favored the Indians; and it was even
hinted in explanation of his tardiness that he feared a
war would injure the beaver trade with the savages, of

which he had secured a monopoly for himself and his
friends. Early in 1676, he did order out a force, under
the command of Sir Henry Chicheley, to pursue the
Susquehanna Indians who had slain thirty-six persons
in the upper settlements of the Rappahannock and Potomac
rivers; but as the troops were about to set out,
he suddenly changed his mind and had them disbanded.
At last the people began to organize for their own defense;
and soon after in the territory around the heads of
the James and the York rivers, the citizens, including
most if not all of the civil and military officers, tumultuously
assembled and selected Nathaniel Bacon, Jr., as
their leader.

The People's Leader. — Bacon was a native of Suffolk
County, England, and was of good descent, his family
apparently belonging to the gentry. He was a cousin of
Lord Culpeper, and his wife a daughter of Sir Edward
Duke. He was educated at St. Catherine's College, Cambridge,
where he entered in 1660, and took his M. A.
degree in 1667. Reared during the stormy period of the
Puritan contest against royalty, he had been influenced by
the spirit of his times, and was animated by an ardent
love of freedom rather than by an attachment to monarchy.
He possessed natural talents of a high order, was
eloquent as a speaker, engaging in manner, violent when
excited, and recklessly brave. He had settled about the
year 1672 on the upper James River, his plantation being
one upon which murders had been committed by the savages.
The high esteem in which he was held is attested
by the fact that, though he had been in the colony only
about three years, he had been appointed to a place in the
Council, an unusual honor for one so young, for he was
but twenty-nine. Such was Nathaniel Bacon, whom his

countrymen enthusiastically chose as their commander,
and well was he qualified for the office.

Other prominent leaders on the popular side were Richard
Lawrence, a brilliant Oxford man, and Drummond, a
Scotchman, who had been governor of North Carolina.

Declared to be Rebels. — Bacon's men collected their
arms, and asked to be led against the Indians. But their

commander, before complying with
their request, applied to the governor
for a commission, so that his acts might have the sanction
of law. Berkeley did not send the commission; and
so Bacon, in May, 1676, set out on his expedition without
it, deriving his authority directly from the will of the
people. But as he was on his way news reached him that
he and his men had been declared to be rebels by the
governor, and ordered to disperse. Some men of estates
obeyed, but the rest continued on their way to the frontier
and, after defeating the Indians, started back to the settlement.

Berkeley makes Concessions. — In the meantime the governor
had taken vigorous action. He collected troops and,
leaving Jamestown in haste, pursued Bacon; but he was
suddenly stopped by the alarming news that all the lower
counties along the James and York rivers had flamed out
in rebellion under the leadership of Joseph Ingram and
George Wakelet. Berkeley returned to Jamestown, and
in view of the difficulties that faced him, decided to make
some concessions. He accordingly dissolved the Burgesses,
dismantled the frontier forts, which were the
source of much complaint as being a useless burden, and
in other ways showed a conciliatory spirit in the hope that
he might keep the colony loyal to his authority.

A New House of Burgesses. — Berkeley ordered a new
House of Burgesses to be elected, and the result was a
surprise. The feeling of the people against the restriction
of the suffrage was shown by the election, in some of
the counties, of freedmen as burgesses. Bacon was unanimously
chosen a burgess from his county of Henrico. The
new House, which met early in June, represented the people,
and a majority of the members were in sympathy with
Bacon.

Bacon's Arrest and Apology. — When Bacon appeared
to take his seat in the House, Sir William Berkeley did the
only thing that he could do under the circumstances —
arrested him. But he speedily paroled him, and an effort
was made to harmonize matters. There was in the Council
a near relative of Bacon, Nathaniel Bacon, Sr., "a rich,
politic man." He, as was believed, induced Bacon, "not
without much pains," however, to make a written apology

for his acts. Bacon agreed to do this, his friends claimed,
on the promise of a commission to fight the Indians. After
he had thus humbled himself, he was pardoned by the governor,
and restored to his seat in the Council. When this
took place, many men from the upper country, who had
hurried to Jamestown on hearing of Bacon's arrest, returned
to their homes; and for a few days it looked as if
the trouble was at an end.

Berkeley and Bacon

Bacon's Flight and Return. — If a commission was promised
Bacon, none was ever sent to him. After waiting
several days, he grew apprehensive that the governor's
generous action in pardoning him was but a cloak to conceal
his real purpose. Fearing that he would be arrested
again after his friends had left, he fled from Jamestown,
but in a short time returned at the head of about five
hundred armed men. The House of Burgesses met in

haste. The governor and his Council came out of the
assembly room, and Bacon advanced to meet them.
"Here, shoot me, 'fore God, a fair mark — shoot!" cried
Berkeley. "No," Bacon replied, "may it please your
honor, we will not hurt a hair of your head, nor of any
other man. We are come for a commission to save our
lives from the Indians, which you have so often promised,
and we will have it before we go."

Bacon Before the Burgesses. — Bacon himself appeared
before the Burgesses, and addressed them on the Indian
troubles, on the condition of the public revenues, and
on the grievances of the country. He was the next day
appointed by the House commander in chief against the
Indians, and this Governor Berkeley ratified. An act
was passed pardoning Bacon and his followers for their
proceedings, and a letter was even drafted to the king,
highly commending them. The House also passed a
number of salutary laws that were well adapted to reform
abuses and to relieve the people; and to these Berkeley,
who was for the time completely subdued, assented.

Berkeley Takes Refuge in Accomac. — Berkeley, finding
that he could not depend on the support of the House
of Burgesses, dissolved it, and then repaired to Gloucester,
counting upon the loyalty of the planters there. He again
declared Bacon a rebel, and, raising the royal standard,
tried to rally the citizens to its defense. But he received
only a half-hearted support; for, while the people acknowledged
him as governor, they informed him that "they
thought it not convenient at present to declare themselves
against Bacon, as he was now advancing against the common
enemy." The governor did not remain long unmolested,
for Bacon, on hearing of the proclamation he had
issued in Gloucester, abandoned the expedition against the

Indians, and marched to attack him. But Sir William hastily
embarked in a small vessel and sailed across the Chesapeake
Bay to the "Kingdom of Accomac," as it was called,
which was regarded as a separate country, though it was
controlled by Virginia.

The Convention at Middle Plantation. — At the news of
the governor's flight, Bacon addressed a proclamation to
the people of Virginia, inviting all who loved their country
and their homes to assemble in convention and throw off
the tyranny of Berkeley. The call was answered with
alacrity. The most eminent men of the colony, four of
whom were members of the Governor's Council, met at
Middle Plantation, now Williamsburg, on August 3, 1676.
The convention, after a stormy session, subscribed to an
oath to make common cause with Bacon against the
Indians, to support him against Berkeley, and even to
resist any force that might be sent from England till the
people's cause could be laid before the king. This oath
was prescribed by Bacon, and it was administered by the
lawful magistrates in nearly every county.

The Indians Defeated and Dispersed. — Bacon, now feeling
sure of the support of the people, turned his attention
to the Indians. He attacked and defeated the Appomattox
tribe in the neighborhood of the present city of Petersburg,
and then scattered the savages that were on the
Nottoway, the Meherrin, and the Roanoke rivers. The
Indian power was now broken, and Bacon disbanded most
of his troops.

Berkeley's Return to Jamestown. — While Bacon was
pursuing the Indians, Giles Bland, one of his followers,
with a fleet of four ships sailed for Accomac to capture
the governor. But one of the men turned traitor to
Bacon's cause and gave up one of the ships to Berkeley,

who then captured the others. After this stroke of good
fortune, Sir William secured sixteen or seventeen sloops,
and by means of this fleet transported his soldiers, numbering
from six hundred to a thousand, across the bay;
and on September 7,
1676, he took possession
of Jamestown.

Destruction of Jamestown

Destruction of
Jamestown. — When
Bacon heard what
had happened, he
started at once for
Jamestown, with
such of his followers
as he could hastily
collect, and traveled
"with marvelous celerity,
outstripping
the swift wings of
fame." As he advanced,
reinforcements joined him; but, when he reached
Jamestown, his force was still inferior to Berkeley's. He
prepared to cannonade the town; but Berkeley, evacuating
it in haste, embarked with his troops on board the ships
which lay in the river. Bacon entered the town; and,
as his army was too small for him to leave a garrison in
the place, after consulting with his officers, he decided to
burn it so that it should no more furnish a refuge for the
royalists. This was done on September 19, 1676, Lawrence
and Drummond putting the torch to their own homes.
The destruction was complete; and now only the ruins of
the tower of the church and the graves in the adjacent
cemetery mark the site of Virginia's ancient capita'.

Death of Bacon. — Bacon now had all Virginia with him,
and he was full of hope that he could establish for the
colony a free government subject to Great Britain; but he
did not live long enough to carry out any of his plans.
During the siege of Jamestown he contracted a fatal sickness;
and in October, 1676, he died at the house of Mr.
Pate, in Gloucester. He was secretly buried by his faithful
followers, and the place of his interment has never
been discovered.

Collapse of the Rebellion. — At the news of Bacon's
death there was widespread dismay; and a momentous
change at once took place. There was

Ruins of Jamestown

no leader to succeed
him; and his followers
became broken up into
separate bands, which
Sir William Berkeley
attacked and defeated
in detail. The people
grew weary of the desultory
warfare that was
carried on, in many
cases, it appeared, only
for plunder and revenge,
and longed for
a return of peace.
Berkeley exerted
himself to encourage
this pacific spirit. Finally, he entered into negotiations
with Ingram and Wakelet, two of the most influential
leaders, offering them full pardon if they would lay down
their arms; and upon these terms they surrendered.
Thus the rebellion which, in September, 1676, was triumphant
everywhere, had, by the end of the year, fallen
to pieces for lack of a head; and Governor Berkeley was
again in authority.

Berkeley's Revenge. — Now that Sir William Berkeley
was in possession of the government again, instead of
adopting a policy calculated to heal the wounds of the
colony, he displayed a spirit of revenge, which seemed
to kill all humane feelings in his heart. He threw into
prison many who had been prominent in the rebellion;
and, knowing that when they were brought to trial they
would be cleared by juries, he established martial law, by
which men were condemned to death without fair trial,
and then hurried off to execution.[9] Thus he brought
about a reign of terror in the land, no man knowing
when he might be arrested and hanged. Finally, after
twenty-three executions had taken place, the House of
Burgesses, in February, 1677, restrained him, by voting
an address "that the governor would spill no more blood."
"Had we let him alone," said one of the members, "he
would have hanged half the country." "The old fool,"
exclaimed Charles II., on hearing of Berkeley's acts, "has
hanged more men in that naked country than I have done
for the murder of my father!"

Berkeley's Recall and Death. — Sir William Berkeley was
recalled by the king, and passed out of office on the 27th
of April, 1677. When he departed, the Virginians kindled
bonfires and fired salutes, while a wave of joy passed over
the land. On reaching England, he found that his conduct
in Virginia was looked upon with horror by his
friends, and that he was not sustained by the king. All

this is said to have broken his heart, and on July 13, 1677,
he died under a load of infamy, which dimmed the fair
reputation he had won in his youth.

QUESTIONS

• 1. What did the king promise?

• 2. Did he send a new charter at once?

• 3. What cause for alarm now demanded attention?

• 4. Give an account of the Indian depredations.

• 5. How did Governor Berkeley treat the appeal of the people for protection?

• 6. Of what did they suspect him?

• 7. Finally, what action did the people take?

• 8. Who was Nathaniel Bacon, and why was he chosen leader?

• 9. What fact attested the esteem in which he was held?

• 10. Give the names of two other men chosen.

• 11. What request did Bacon make of Governor Berkeley?

• 12. Was it granted?

• 13. By whose authority did Bacon set out, and what news reached him?

• 14. In the meantime what action had the governor taken?

• 15. By what was he prevented from carrying out his plan?

• 16. What did he do now?

• 17. What was the sentiment of the new House of Burgesses?

• 18. Tell of Bacon's arrest and apology

• 19. Give an account of his flight from Jamestown and return.

• 20. What did he demand from the governor?

• 21. On what subjects did Bacon address the Burgesses, and with what
  result?

• 22. Why did Berkeley dissolve the House of Burgesses, and repair to
  Gloucester?

• 23. What did he again declare Bacon?

• 24. What did the people inform Berkeley?

• 25. On hearing the governor's proclamation, what did Bacon do?

• 26. Where had Berkeley gone?

• 27. What proclamation did Bacon make?

• 28. Give an account of the convention at Middle Plantation.

• 29. To what did Bacon now turn his attention?

• 30. Tell of Berkeley's return to Jamestown.

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• 31. Give an account of the burning of Jamestown.

• 32. What is left to mark the site of Virginia's ancient capital?

• 33. Tell of Bacon's death.

• 34. What happened when the people heard of his death?

• 35. How did Berkeley try to pacify them?

• 36. In what way did he seek revenge?

• 37. Finally what did the House of Burgesses have to do?

• 38. What did Charles II. exclaim on hearing of Berkeley's acts?

• 39. Give an account of his recall and death.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

• 1. Give an account of the struggle in England between the king and
  Parliament.

• 2. What was the Commonwealth of England?

• 3. How did it assert its authority in Virginia, and how did the colony
  prosper under its rule?

• 4. What is said of the restoration of Charles II.?

• 5. What were the navigation laws, and how did they affect the commerce
  of Virginia?

• 6. Tell of the oppressive colonial legislation, and of Berkeley's obstinacy.

• 7. What is said of the criminal prodigality of Charles II., and to what
  did it lead?

• 8. Who was Nathaniel Bacon?

• 9. Why did Berkeley declare Bacon and his men rebels?

• 10. Give the leading facts of Bacon's Rebellion up to the convention
  at Middle Plantation.

• 11. What was done at this convention?

• 12. Describe the destruction of Jamestown.

• 13. Tell of Bacon's death, and the collapse of the Rebellion.

• 14. Describe Berkeley's revenge, and his death.